Postcard from History- Greece & Rome

Get ready to dip into ancient times with your students in the empires of Greece and Rome while you are at Camp Buckner. We will lead your students through several courses where they can learn or re-enforce details of the Greek and Roman Culture.

The courses we offer

A Day in GreeceRotation 1: Athens: The Parthenon and Greek Architecture
Gaze in awe at our phenomenal replica Parthenon and learn how and why the Greek goddess Athena celebrated her birthday! Set in the city state of Athens, this rotation will remind your students about the location of Athens, the time frame of Classical Greece and the many achievements of the Athenians.Rotation 2 Corinth: Greek Pottery
Feeling artistic? Come to Corinth! YES! That’s Corinth, the same city that is in the Bible! Who knew that Corinth was also a center famous for its fine ceramics in the Greek world? Students will discover the many different styles and uses for Greek vases and then work in pairs to fill our fabulous mural walls with their own massive Greek vases decorated with scenes from ancient Greek life.Rotation 3: Crete: Greek Mythology
Who doesn’t enjoy a good Greek myth? Come with us to Crete, to the Palace of King Minos at Knossos and hear the story of brave Theseus who fought the dreadful Minotaur. Dare to walk our labyrinth but don’t get tied in knots as you try to figure out our “a-MAZE-ing” puzzles and activities inspired by the famous “YARN”!Rotation 4: Olympia: The Greek Olympics
If it’s an athletic challenge you’re after, journey with your guide to Olympia, home of the Olympic Games and challenge yourselves to a team-building event of heroic proportions! Run a torch relay down our famous stadium, throw the discus just like Milo of Croton and see who can jump the furthest in our long-jump Olympic event.Rotation 5: Macedonia: The Dig Site
In this rotation, your Tour Guide also doubles as an archaeologist! Allow your tour guide to take you to Macedonia, home of Alexander the Great and to supervise your excavation of the royal tombs at Vergina! Who knows what ancient artifacts you will find and what you will learn about archaeological excavation and conservation techniques?Lunch at the Agora
Students will gather at the Agora for a communal lunch. The Agora can host a tasty Greek meal of souvlaki, fries and dessert or students can bring brown sack lunches.

After lunch, depending upon the time of year, students will enjoy swimming in our wonderful pool or challenge themselves with a team building initiative as part of our ropes course program.A Day in RomeRotation 1: Building a Roman Road
We all know that Roman engineers were famous for their road building and these roads allowed the movement of their amazing Roman soldiers! It is said that “All roads lead to Rome”, but not at Camp Buckner! Help us to build our Roman road, practice military marching with Roman standards and shoot our ballista!Rotation 2: The Roman Theater
Follow your tour guide to our very own Roman theater! Make a Roman mask and act out a Roman play to the sound of thunderous applause…at least, we hope it’s applause and not the rumblings of a volcano...Rotation 3: The Dig site
In this rotation, your facilitator is an archaeologist! Allow the archaeologist to take you to Pompeii and the Bay of Naples and to supervise your excavation of the Villa of the Mysteries. Who knows what ancient artifacts you will find and what you will learn about archaeological excavation and conservation techniques?Rotation 4: The Palaestra
Everybody knows that the Romans were a very clean and fit bunch of people – all that bathing in Roman baths! But, did you know that Roman school children did their lessons at the Palaestra, or exercise grounds near the baths? Get ready to learn with your tabulae, or writing tablets and styluses and to play a Roman numeral team-building game!Rotation 5: The Roman Villa
What was a house like in Pompeii? How does a Roman “villa” or, house from Pompeii compare to a modern house in 21st century Texas? Students can roam around our scaled Roman house floor plan and following their plan, label its rooms as well as furnish and accessorize it. Students will also do a room activity inspired by a certain room of the house – e.g. make bread from a Roman recipe as part of the “culina” or kitchen activity.Lunch at the Thermopolia
Students will gather at the snack bar, or thermopolia for a communal lunch. The thermopolia can host a tasty Italian meal of fresh-made pizza and dessert or students can bring brown sack lunches.

After lunch, depending upon the time of year, students will enjoy swimming in our wonderful pool or challenge themselves with a team building initiative as part of our ropes course program.